‘Mean’ charity scammer jailed for five months for bogus door-to-door scheme

Tom Tuite

A "mean" scammer caught carrying out a bogus door-to-door collection in Dublin claiming to raise money to help homeless women has been jailed for five months.

John Stokes, 27, of Shancastle Lawns, Clondalkin, Dublin 22 pleaded guilty to an offence under the Street and House To House Collections Act.

During the proceedings at Dublin District Court, it was revealed that Stokes had previously worked for the Associated Charities Trust (ACT).

It runs Thomond House in Limerick and provides emergency and transitional accommodation for homeless women.

Despite leaving the charity over five years ago, the father of two kept copies of their documents on file and was caught last year using one to carry out a collection in Harold's Cross, Dublin.

However, Garda Michael Dowling caught him as an elderly woman was about to hand over €50.

Hugh Silke, ACT project manager, gave a victim impact statement, telling the court that after the outbreak of the COVID pandemic, the charity ceased door-to-door or street collections but raised funds through its website instead.

Mr Silke said Stokes was "elusive" and could print off copies of documents which looked like they were from the charity.

Stokes "preyed" on the public, but none of their efforts to stop him were successful.

Mr Silke said over the last few years, the charity has had to update its website frequently to warn potential donors about him carrying out fake collections in their areas.

Stokes had 21 prior convictions, including one for deception.

Judge Gerard Jones noted that one woman had been about to give Stokes money when he was intercepted and he praised Garda Donnelly who caught him.

Defence solicitor Holly Laher mentioned that her client had worked for the charity before 2020, and since then, he had been "in and out of work".

He has also spent two years in the UK since 2020 and has been on social welfare while searching for employment.

Judge Jones described Stokes's actions as "a very mean crime" where the public expected their money to go to the homeless charity.

"If an elderly lady gives €50, he might as well take it out of her hands," he said as he sentenced Stokes, who did not address the court.